1815	British and French Fleets	351

Two circumstances, in the abstract for the commencement of the present year, * indicate the return of peace ; the small number of line-of-battle cruisers in commission, and the great number of ships sold, taken to pieces, or otherwise removed from the service. �

The number of commissioned officers and masters, belonging to the British navy at the beginning of the year 1815, was:

And the number of seamen and marines. voted for the service of the same year, was 70,000 for three, and 90,000 for ten, lunar months. �

On the 2d of January, 1815, his royal highness the prince regent was pleased to advance the splendour, and to extend the limits, of the most honourable military order of the bath, " to the end that those officers, who have had the opportunity of distinguishing themselves by eminent services during the late war,

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